Atlantic Division: The NHL's best grouping?

Evgeni Malkin is back in the Penguins' lineup and looks like he's on the verge of a huge season

The Atlantic Division can stake a claim as the most competitive in the Eastern Conference, boasting four playoff-caliber clubs in the Penguins, Flyers, Devils and Rangers – and then there’s the Islanders, who look like a lottery team once again. It was a tumultuous off-season for the Atlantic, with the Pittsburgh nursing two injured superstars, a massive overhaul in Philadelphia and the Rangers landing the biggest fish in the free-agent pond.

Best-Case Scenario: Bryzgalov shines, Pronger stays healthy, Jaromir Jagr’s(notes) forever young and all the new guys blossom. On paper, there’s enough skill and depth to challenge for the Cup.

Reality Check: Pronger and Jagr in the same dressing room? This’ll be fun.

3. NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Five Most Important Players

1. Zach Parise(notes), LW: Dynamic and determined, the Devils are a much better team with their talisman in the lineup.

2. Martin Brodeur(notes), G: The NHL’s all-time wins and shutouts leader doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody. On the other hand, he’s coming off his first-ever losing season, he’s had two major injuries in three years, he turns 40 in May and could be a free agent next summer.

3. Ilya Kovalchuk(notes), RW: He was a big part of both the first-half flop and second-half rally. And the same will hold true this season and beyond.

Best-Case Scenario: Nabokov rises to the challenge, the prospects hit fast-forward on the progress button and the team cobbles together a comprehensive defensive approach. Then, with a little luck, maybe – maybe – the Isles are a bubble playoff team.

Reality Check: The young guns up front aren’t there yet, and the back end is one of the very weakest in the league.